Demonstrators occupy Powell Street BART station in San Francisco, Calif. Friday, December 5, 2014 during a protest against the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and the chokehold death of Eric Garner in New York City less

Demonstrators occupy Powell Street BART station in San Francisco, Calif. Friday, December 5, 2014 during a protest against the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and the chokehold death of Eric ... more

A protestor hangs a banner which reads "Black Lives Matter," atop the flagpole of the Oakland Police Department, Monday, Dec. 15, 2014, in Oakland, Calif. Demonstrators blocked streets around Oakland police headquarters and chained themselves to the front of the building Monday to protest recent grand jury decisions not to indict white officers who killed unarmed black men in Ferguson, Mo., and New York. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) less

Protesters gather near City Hall in Berkeley to demonstrate against grand jury decisions in Ferguson and New York, in Berkeley, Calif., on Tuesday, December 9, 2014.

Protesters gather near City Hall in Berkeley to demonstrate against grand jury decisions in Ferguson and New York, in Berkeley, Calif., on Tuesday, December 9, 2014.

Photo: Tim Hussin, Special To The Chronicle

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City Council member Kriss Worthington speaks to protesters in Berkeley as they demonstrate against grand jury decisions in Ferguson and New York, in Berkeley, Calif., on Tuesday, December 9, 2014. The regular council meeting was cancelled. less

City Council member Kriss Worthington speaks to protesters in Berkeley as they demonstrate against grand jury decisions in Ferguson and New York, in Berkeley, Calif., on Tuesday, December 9, 2014. The regular ... more

Photo: Tim Hussin, Special To The Chronicle

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Protesters gather at City Hall in Berkeley to demonstrate against grand jury decisions in Ferguson and New York, in Berkeley, Calif., on Tuesday, December 9, 2014.

Protesters gather at City Hall in Berkeley to demonstrate against grand jury decisions in Ferguson and New York, in Berkeley, Calif., on Tuesday, December 9, 2014.

One protester plays his guitar on the connector ramp from Highway 24 to 580 as others urge more to come up on the freeway in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, December 9, 2014. Several hundred protesters marched through the street of Berkeley to Oakland, and back, stopping traffic on Highway 24 before some sporadic vandalism and looting of stores in Emeryville. less

One protester plays his guitar on the connector ramp from Highway 24 to 580 as others urge more to come up on the freeway in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, December 9, 2014. Several hundred protesters marched ... more

Protesters stream past passengers stuck on an AC Transit bus on Telegraph Avenue as anti-police brutality protests continuing in Oakland, CA, on Saturday, December 13, 2014, regarding the Michael Brown ruling in Missouri and the Eric Garner ruling in New York. less

A young person tried to get the attention of traffic on the bridge Sunday December 14, 2014. About two dozen people marched from both sides of the Golden Gate Bridge, as part of the Code Pink protest movement, and met in the middle to demand the end to the killing of unarmed black men by police. less

A young person tried to get the attention of traffic on the bridge Sunday December 14, 2014. About two dozen people marched from both sides of the Golden Gate Bridge, as part of the Code Pink protest movement, ... more

OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 13: Protesters raise their fists in front of the Alameda County Court House during a 'Millions March' demonstration protesting the killing of unarmed black men by police on December 13, 2014 in Oakland, California. The march was one of many held nationwide. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images) less

OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 13: Protesters raise their fists in front of the Alameda County Court House during a 'Millions March' demonstration protesting the killing of unarmed black men by police on December 13, ... more

Protesters walk by a line of CHP officers at the onramp from Telegraph Avenue to Highway 24 in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, December 9, 2014. Several hundred protesters marched through the street of Berkeley to Oakland, and back, stopping traffic on Highway 24 before some sporadic vandalism and looting of stores in Emeryville. less

Protesters walk by a line of CHP officers at the onramp from Telegraph Avenue to Highway 24 in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, December 9, 2014. Several hundred protesters marched through the street of Berkeley to ... more

Protesters lift a bicycle over the railing onto Highway 24 as they stop traffic in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, December 9, 2014. Several hundred protesters marched through the street of Berkeley to Oakland, and back, stopping traffic on Highway 24 before some sporadic vandalism and looting of stores in Emeryville. less

Protesters lift a bicycle over the railing onto Highway 24 as they stop traffic in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, December 9, 2014. Several hundred protesters marched through the street of Berkeley to Oakland, ... more

Protesters gather at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza in Oakland to demonstrate against grand jury decisions in Ferguson and New York, in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, December 9, 2014.

Protesters gather at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza in Oakland to demonstrate against grand jury decisions in Ferguson and New York, in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, December 9, 2014.

Photo: Tim Hussin, Special To The Chronicle

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Protesters stop traffic on Highway 24 to block it off in Oakland while demonstrating against grand jury decisions in Ferguson, Mo., and New York.

Protesters stop traffic on Highway 24 to block it off in Oakland while demonstrating against grand jury decisions in Ferguson, Mo., and New York.

Photo: Tim Hussin / Special To The Chronicle

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Protesters confront police in Oakland while demonstrating against grand jury decisions in Ferguson and New York, in Berkeley, Calif., on Tuesday, December 9, 2014.

Protesters confront police in Oakland while demonstrating against grand jury decisions in Ferguson and New York, in Berkeley, Calif., on Tuesday, December 9, 2014.

Photo: Tim Hussin, Special To The Chronicle

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Protesters make a break for Highway 24 to block it off in Oakland while demonstrating against grand jury decisions.

Protesters make a break for Highway 24 to block it off in Oakland while demonstrating against grand jury decisions.

Photo: Tim Hussin / Special To The Chronicle

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Police detain a protester in Oakland as they demonstrate against grand jury decisions in Ferguson and New York, in Berkeley, Calif., on Tuesday, December 9, 2014.

Police detain a protester in Oakland as they demonstrate against grand jury decisions in Ferguson and New York, in Berkeley, Calif., on Tuesday, December 9, 2014.

Photo: Tim Hussin, Special To The Chronicle

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Protesters march at Berkeley’s Old City Hall. From there, they set off south on Telegraph, chanting and waving signs.

Protesters march at Berkeley’s Old City Hall. From there, they set off south on Telegraph, chanting and waving signs.

Photo: Tim Hussin / Special To The Chronicle

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A girl shows a sign to Berkeley police officers during demonstrations in Berkeley, California on Saturday, December 6, 2014. Protesting continued through the night in response to the grand jury verdicts in the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and the chokehold death of Eric Garner in New York City by local police officers in their communities. less

A girl shows a sign to Berkeley police officers during demonstrations in Berkeley, California on Saturday, December 6, 2014. Protesting continued through the night in response to the grand jury verdicts in the ... more

Photo: Josh Edelson, JOSH EDELSON / SAN FRANCISCO CHR

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White screaming drowns out black voices at protests

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Bay Area protests over the deaths of Eric Garner, Michael Brown and scores of others may assuage white liberal guilt and provide a righteous reason to rail against the machine, but it would be nice to actually hear from some black folks.

So far, it seems all I’ve seen and heard in three weeks of protest are some pretty vocal white folks screaming to have their way, or dismissing the actions of the wolves inside the flock as the ugly backside of democracy.

Assault, vandalism and looting are not protected forms of free speech.

In Oakland, black religious leaders who have traditionally stood front and center in every successful civil rights movement were not part of the revolution this time.

Their conspicuous absence has led to marches that, quite frankly, appear to be more about white rage than black empowerment. It’s more about what they want than it is about what African American communities truly need.

Black leadership whether from churches or community organizations would add credibility, foster communication and bridge the gap between demonstrators and middle-aged and older African Americans who’ve been down this road before.

“I’m waiting for someone to say all black lives matter, whether they are being killed by police officers or other young black men,” said Bishop Bob Jackson, the African American pastor at Acts Full Gospel Church, which has more than 12,000 congregants from across the Bay Area.

The annual Martin Luther Day King March planned for Oakland will call on police officers as well as citizens who resolve disputes with violence to declare a moratorium on all killings of black men, Jackson said.

But in an era where Sunday church services take a backseat to weekend sales and football games, that influence and their message is waning.

“The clergy in Oakland have not really come together,” said Bishop Joseph Simmons, pastor at Greater St. Paul Church in West Oakland. “We’re still trying to figure out where we fit in in all of this. This generation doesn’t have respect for the church, and we don’t have the power we once had.”

All the same, the violence, vandalism and looting that have been part of the demonstrations in Oakland, Berkeley and San Francisco have disappointed some of the black community leaders.

“When you see protesters taking the opportunity to loot stores and burn stuff, it doesn’t help preserve the memories of young men like Brown and Garner,” Jackson said. “Using their deaths as an excuse to terrorize innocent citizens, loot, rob and destroy only hurts our cause.”

Hey, white folks, I feel your pain, but it should at least occur to you that jumping onto one of the nation’s busiest freeways in a rainstorm to block traffic could risk the life of an African American motorist. I’m assuming you think their life matters, even if you act as if yours doesn’t.

“I hope this is a movement that leads to changes in law enforcement’s approach toward black people, but this is our problem and it will only be fixed by black people standing up,” Jackson said. “They can stand with us if they want to, but this is a black matter and we’re the ones who need to stand together and join forces.”

If this movement hopes to serve as the catalyst for change, as it claims, African American community leaders must lead it. For it to have validity in the eyes of the people who stand to benefit, it must be an act of self-determination, not a byproduct of white rage.

Community leaders who sponsor, nurture and aid the Bay Area’s most vulnerable citizens understand that the roots and underlying reasons for racial animosity in America run far and deep and are fed by so many malicious streams that the deaths of African American men in confrontations with white police officers are but a symptom of a much broader social disease.